Chess, although technically a war game, is not a game of graphic
violence. It is a game that is rooted in Indian war game Chaturanga which was first played as far back as 600 A.D.
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| Chaturanga |
By 1000 A.D. Chaturang evolved into two
different games; the Persian, or Western, version most Americans and Europeans
are accustomed to and the Chinese Chess version played in Asia.
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Western or Persian Chess |
Chess is a game that has stood the test of
time. It is game that does not distinguish between the players size, gender,
race, age, and even physical disadvantageous.
Chess is much more than a fun game to play to
pass the time. It is a game that exercises the mind of young and old. Chess has
been proven by multiple studies in benefiting players to improve their higher
cognitive thinking skills and academic performances in all subject matters.
How does Chess benefit higher cognitive thinking?
1.
Observational skills: Players
need to develop keen observation of the positions of their pieces and their
opponent's pieces on the board. They need to understand in the project range of
different pieces on the playing board.
2.
Problem solving skills: No
two chess games are the same. Players must learn to solve unexpected problems
as they arise. They are forced to counter unexpected moves of their opponent.
3.
Concentration and memory skills: Too
often games are lost by making a wrong move. Players need to remember the
dynamics of how the different pieces move. They must concentrate on where their
opponent moves their pieces.
4.
Projection skills, logic and reasoning:
As a player improves they learn not to
just react to their opponent's immediate moves, but instead begins to use logic
and reasoning skills to predict what moves their opponent may make in counter
to their own moves. Advances players are able to project several moves and
countermoves in their heads before making a single move.
Educators at the Roberto Clemente School (C.I.S. 166) in New
York report that chess has improved not only academic scores, but social
performance as well. In 1988, Joyce Brown, an assistant principal and
supervisor of the school’s Special Education department, and teacher Florence
Mirin began studying the effect of chess on their Special Education students.
“The effects have been remarkable,” Brown says. “Not only have the reading and
math skills of these children soared, their ability to socialize has increased
substantially, too. Our studies have shown that incidents of suspension and outside
altercations have decreased by at least 60% since these children became
interested in chess.” 1
As noted in the
Roberto Clemente School study another measured benefit to playing chess has
been in social skills and improved behavior. Other studies have confirmed these
benefits in students' social behavior along with improved attendance.
Jerome
Fishman, Guidance Counselor, C.J.H.S 231, Queens, NY: “I like the aspect of
socialization. You get into friendly, competitive activity where no one gets
hurt. Instead of two bodies slamming into each other like in football, you’ve
got the meeting of two minds.- It’s strategic, and you use logic to plan an
attack scheme Aside from being good for the cognitive development of these
youngsters, chess develops their social skills, too. It makes them feel they
belong. Whenever we get a child transferred from another school who may have
maladaptive behavior, our principal (Dr. Wilton Anderson) suggests chess as a
way of helping him find his niche. It also helps kids learn how to be better
friends. They analyze the game and talk it over afterwards. I even had a couple
of kids who never had much in common start going to each other’s houses to play
chess and swap Chess Life magazines. We’ve got kids literally lining up in front
of the school at 6:45 am to get a little chess in before classes start.” 2
Move2attacK Games are an advanced forms of chess.
With all the benefits of chess and more. As They are abstract strategic games
where players begin the games on a equal footing. Move2attack strategic Games
have the added benefit in practical skills from game play and exposing players
to historical eras in the hopes of arousing their interests in history, science
& technology, and political science.
Practical skills:
1. Map reading skills: Unlike chess, which is played on a
simple checkered board, Move2attacK Games are mostly played on
topographical maps. Players need to learn to read the map for best movement and
defensive positions. Woods, elevations, roads, major rivers, oceans, coral
reefs, mountains, streams, towns, bridges, are all elements players need to be
able to read and understand. It some games being able to understand compass
points is also critical.
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| Muskets & Sabers Playing Board |
2. Mathematics: Combat in most Move2attacK Games are determined by a combat
chart based on odds. Players need to understand basic addition and subtraction,
along with skills in calculating odd ratios, multiplication, division, and
percentages.
3. History and current events: Even though Move2attacK Games are not recreations of actual
historical battles, which too often were
not fought on equal terms and players would have the advantage of hindsight of
the actual battles. Move2attacK Games are abstract like Chess with
both players mostly start at equal strength, many of the games are yet still
based on historical eras. It is the hope that by making the games historically
as realistic as possible they will encourage players to learn more about these
periods in our history, beyond just the battlefields of the times. Games
such as International Politics and the Home Front Series are
designed to help players understand and spark interest in current world events.
4. Communication Skills: The Move2attacK role playing games of Sol III: The
World of Our Lord Joe and International Politics: A Political Science
Simulator are multiplayer games that require players to communicate,
negotiate, and cooperate with other players in order to be successful in game
play.
5. Economic skills: Many of the Move2attacK games have elements of obtaining
resources in order to purchase new units for game play. Players must make
economic and strategic decisions on what they should or shouldn't purchase in
order to succeed in game. Games such as Wars of Fantasy, Black vs.
Blue, International Politics, and Sol III, all have economic
elements in their game play. Wars of Fantasy, Sol III, and International
Politics have the additional element of trade within their game structures.
Chess has been proven to be extremely
beneficial for students and seniors in helping them develop, improve and
maintain their higher cognitive skills. Move2attacK Games build on the success of chess
with the added practical skill benefits built into the games. There games are
perfect for teachers to inspire their students in a fun way, seniors to
exercise their higher cognitive, concentration, and memory skills. Most
importantly these are games parents can play with their children to help their
children improve their reasoning, logic, and academic scores, while spending
quality time as parent and child.
References
2 “New
York City Schools Chess Program” by Christine Palm, copyright 1990.
5 http://www.Move2attacK.com
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